§ Mr. ASTORasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of tithes paid in Wales in 1910 and in 1911, and what proportions of the amount went to lay and ecclesiastical owners, respectively?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total amount of tithe rent-charge charged on lands in Wales, at the time of the commutation was £274,493, but this amount has been altered by redemption, merger, and other transactions, and the amount actually chargeable at the present time cannot be stated. The amount of tithe rent-charge at the time of the commutation is shown for lay and ecclesiastical owners respectively in House of Commons Return 214 of 1887. Assuming that this were the amount now chargeable, the actual payments due in 1910 and 1911, as varied by the septennial corn average, would be as follows:—
Owner of rent charge. Amount of rent charge at the commutation (fractions of £ omitted). Amount payable on this basis. In 1910. In 1911. £ £ £ Clerical Appropriators and their Lessees 67,664 47,624 48,181 Parochial Incumbents 137,501 96,778 97,911 Lay Impropriators 61,169 43,053 43,557 Schools, Colleges, etc. 8,159 5,743 5,819 £274,493 193,198 195,458 But these amounts are given subject to the qualifications mentioned at the beginning of this reply.